Cork beat Kerry in the Munster Final
Cork beat Kerry in the Munster Final so I created this ode to their result.
Add comment July 8th, 2008
Posts filed under 'Sport'
The Joe Pesci of Hurling retires
Davy Fitz is after retiring.
I must say I really liked him, being of small stature myself he really was inspirational. He was one of the few short ‘keepers. He was well able to have a laugh with the fans on the terrace during any matches I was at. And he got a tirade of abuse from the Cork fans. But he’d always have a wry smile and would often acknowledge the crowd if he made a mistake. Legend.
The game of hurling will be a lot duller without him and his runs out of the tunnel to his goalmouth, followed by his patented smacking of his hurley off the crossbar.
We’ll miss you in Cork anyway Davy.
Add comment April 1st, 2008
Banners at Matches
I’m off to see Munster and Connacht tomorrow in Galway in the Magners League. Going to be my first time at a Rugby Union match. Looking forward to it, but perhaps not the drive up. I alway sseem to be in a rush driving to Galway.
I hope they are handing out those little red Munster flags although I think they only do that when playing at home. Here is a pic of a great sign at a game.
Add comment March 27th, 2008
Guinness Hurling Advert
I was going through some hurling videos in YouTube and I came across this ad. I remember it ran for ages. A great ad. But Guinness always make great adverts.
Add comment January 8th, 2008
Buying a New Camera
I got a new camera yesterday. Nice one to a Samsung L830. I got it in Currys in Mahon. Funny thing was that I went into PC World first (who have had their Irish Website shutdown because they didn’t pay for it) but they wouldn’t show me the camera before I bought it! I asked the guy could he turn it on so I can see how the controls work, what the display size was like and how the picture appeared on the display. Very strange. I mean why would I want to buy a camera that I haven’t seen? That’s like buying a car that I couldn’t take for a test drive.
So I went next door to Currys and they showed me the camera, gave me the book so I could see the specs and let me play with it for a while. I was looking dubious so the guy said I could exchange it for a different camera if I didn’t like it. Perfect! So a sale of Currys at the expense of PC World all for the sake of plugging in a camera and leaving me look at it for 5 minutes.
Actually I got a few camera this year. I got an underwater camera and a video camera as well. All of them work perfectly in Linux. I’ve been using the Gimp and Picasso to edit the photos and the brilliant Kino to take videos from the camera.
The underwater camera also takes movies with sound underwater which is pretty cool. The picture quality isn’t the best but by messing with some of the settings I am getting them better and better. Pictures taken with a flash are perfect but that’s no use when I take it scuba diving as particles in the water will obscure the shot. Anyway I am sure I will figure it out.
8 comments January 2nd, 2008
Underwater Camera
I got an underwater camera from Lorri for my birthday. So come the summer hopefully I can post some nice underwater photos from around the Irish coast. It’s very cheap for an underwater camera. Not the most high tech (it doesn’t have an focus option) but its a great entry level camera. The next cheapest one I could find is around €499. I’ll let you know what the quality is like when I get a chance to use it. You can take it out of the case as well and it’s nice and small so it might be useful in the pub as well.
If you are interested in looking at underwater pictures from Ireland check out the Cork Sub-Aqua Club.
1 comment December 18th, 2007
Rebel Panels officially on strike
I read in the Examiner today that the two panels are now on strike. It is no longer just the footballers!
“As of now, the Cork players are officially unavailable to the hurling and football managers. They have resigned from the panels.”
So what does this mean? Does it mean we are going to give our opponents a walkover in matches, maybe even not contest the Championship in the Summer?
“There is a clear understanding among the group that this could mean opting out of inter-county action for the year. Some have already presumed that.”
I agree with the sentiments of the panel, not allowing the coach to pick his selectors is a stupid move but surely if the clubs voted that was the players should follow it? I mean that is democracy after all. You have to go with the will of the majority, even if the majority are idiots? I mean just look at the Government we’ve had for the last few years.
I don’t know if I agree with them going on strike. Perhaps holding up games for a few minutes or something a little less extreme would sit better with people. They’ll have to be careful now that a new panel is drafted in and they lose their place. I mean it is a team sport. People come to follow Cork and not necessarily the individuals who are playing for Cork. As long as there is a Cork team on the field Cork people will follow it, regardless of who makes it up.
I really hope they County Board and the clubs rescind the ruling for the good of Cork hurling. But they may not because of the strike action. They will probably be worried if they rescind the ruling the players will go on strike for any little grievance in the future.
However the last time they went on strike they came out playing better than ever after it. So maybe it might be for the best after all.
Add comment December 10th, 2007
GAA Players Grants are no giveaway
Well finally the GAA grants things seems to be nearly sorted. No one seems to be mentioning the fact that the Government didn’t give the amount they had promised though. In fact they are making 1.5 million euro less available. But why should we be surprised I suppose. These are the same people who promised no waiting for hospital beds, a debt free Cork airport and tax cuts for all. Anyway regardless of what the players are getting they are going to be made work for it. Below are the goals they have to achieve to qualify for a grant.
A Player will have to attend at least 80% of all training sessions and/or matches. He’ll have to demonstrate sustained improvement through regular fitness testing. He has to keep a training log or diary, which must be updated regularly. If injured, he’s not off the hook either: he’ll then have to demonstrate he’s participating satisfactorily in the rehabilitation process.
On top of all that, he must get involved in coaching and games development at local level.
After that?
Work or college. Club commitments. Family life.
Then you have the fairly significant challenge of succeeding at intercounty level.
The amounts at stake? From €1,400 for participation in a second- tier competition to €2,500 for an All-Ireland senior finalist.
Add comment November 30th, 2007
Gaelic Games: Hurling Review
Paul left his a link to his review of the game and I agree with everything he says about the game so in the interest of laziness here is what he has to say.
“The first Gaelic Game was a big let down to all GAA fans. It’s lack of names and bad gameplay got some bad reviews from alot people, including myself. So how good would the first Hurling Game be? Well suprisingly it’s not bad. Making the fast’s game in the world was never going to be easy, but I think IR GURUS have done an excellent job. The gameplay is very good, although the graphic’s are not much better than Gaelic Games Football. The commentary is much the same with Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh giving his expert views. A good addition was the introduction of club teams, although they don’t have the real kit or badges and some of the clubs that are in it don’t even have a Hurling club,but this can quickly be resolved in the new edting section. Just like Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer, IR GURUS have introduced an editing section in which you can edit club teams, player appearances and club names. So now you can make your own club and play with them. Once again the real players names are not in the game, but instead of “Right Half Foward” you have “S.Ireland” which is slightly better. Another great addiction is the Manager Mode, in which you can play your team through a full GAA season. A few bad points about it is the goalkeepers are still terrible, the tackling is still not too good and the graphic’s are much the same. Overall all it’s a big improvement from the Gaelic Game and the gameplay is much better.”
2 comments November 20th, 2007
